Audiophiles, lend me your ears

[Gleeso]

Hi all,

Figured this would be the right section to post my queries in...

I'm looking at getting a decent set of earphones. I can't use headphones in this case, because I'll mostly use the earphones in the library at uni, and can't use headphones with my glasses on.

I could obviously get some reviews from the Google, but I wouldn't mind hearing personal experiences from you lot.

Prefered Specs: Quality sound
Durable
Not too irritating in the ear
Doesn't leak too much (Not that a lot of earphones do.)
*Will try and think of some other preferred specs, if any.*

Thanks,
Jacob.

[wormbo2]

http://headphones.com.au/products/

Great site.
Aussie based, I've used it a few times before, and find reviews to be basically spot-on.

[Pav]

Browse this site for a couple or hours and keep an eye out for the 'recommended' items. http://headphones.com.au/pbrowse?catID=1&subCatID=12

I'm sure you'll find something there that will appeal to you and suit your price range. I have some of these; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VSONIC-GR02-R02PRO-Silver-Cable-Flagship-Edition-Low-Frequency-Earphone-/321022822856?pt=AU_headphone&hash=item4abe7389c8&_uhb=1#ht_3983wt_1139

These have been hit and miss. I'll list a few things that are good about em so it's something for you to look for in a new set, and also some bad points so you know what to stay away from.

The good;
- They come with heaps of different size buds to suit any ear
- They have a sweet bag/case so when you coil up the cord and earphones when you're not using em and store em in the case, when you go to use em again they won't be in a crazy tangle knot that takes 5 minutes to untie.

The bad;
- In low lighting situations, it's almost impossible to read the L and R on each earphone, I'd definitely recommend buying a pair that has color coding for left and right.

Generally I cannot stand canalphones, I've never been able to find any that fit my ears and if they do they just pop out and never seem to stay in even if your ears are squeaky clean. And they get really uncomfortable over a short period of time even when running the smallest size rubber.

If comfort when wearing glasses is the only thing stopping you from going proper headphones, I'd think again coz there are plenty of headphones out there that you can wear glasses with. I've tried Audio Technica AD-700 and AD-900 and they NEVER get uncomfortable, also Sennheiser HD598s. Only problem is they're all open back so you can't wear them out in public. I'm sure Sennheiser would have a headphone similar shape and comfort to the HD598 that is a closed back. Again, just browse that site. Make sure you browse for 'closed'.

If you find a pair you like, look for unboxing and review videos on Youtube. Or you could just go and check em out at Headphonic (that website above is actually a store in Leederville).

[sensei_]

Have you considered in ear monitors? Etymotic ER-4P and UE Triple fi 10 (TF10).

Picked up the TF10 at a bargain when amazon had them for sale really cheap. Excellent choice for a daily use earphone. Sealed tight once you learn to get a good seal.

Another brand, you may want to try would be the sony XBA series. I havent tried them personally, but i hear they give the TF10 a good run.

[bird]

I have the Audiotechnica AD700s and would probably buy these for uni:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B000P62ND6

Closed so the sound won't leak too much. Also great sound and comfy as fuck.

[stefan]

I've been through a few and after my Shure in-ears gave in I went to get something cheap and picked up Soul by Ludacris. I don't go for these fashion garbage crap but these sound real decent. I thing they were around the $90 mark (which to me was cheap considering I payed around $180 for my Shure's) but I've been happy with the sound

[protecon]

Have to take Headphonics/Headphones.com.au with a pinch of salt with his reviews - he's a fellow OCAU'er and doesn't mind plugging gear to get it out the door.

Have a look at Shure or Phonak PFEs - what sort of music do you listen to?
Pair up any decent in-ears with some Comply tips and you shouldn't have to worry about leaks.

[JME]

23 Harrogate St, West Leederville
headphones.com.au

go see them, great selection, you can try before you buy to suit all budgets.

[cplagz]

I bought my Senn HD598s from http://www.razordogaudio.com/

[Gleeso]

Cheers for all the replies guys, been at work so havn't had a chance to check the thread. Will check out those sites now.

[mod]

I have AD700 on my comp great headphones not the greatest if you're chasing bass tho but one of the best sound stage for that price range

I also pair it with a Asus xonar sound card to amp the sound

[shifted]

No point creating a new thread...

Managed to drop a weight on my headphones by accident at the gym which cracked the left case and stopped sound coming through... managed to then fix it somehow but now the sound has become intermittent so I guess I'm up for new headphones instead of fucking around fixing these...

Anything anyone would recommend? Prefer headphones over earphones, I'd like to limit the amount of sound escaping from them though also - don't care for beats by Dre and all that rubbish... just want a decent set that can play hip-hop/dance/dubstep well.

Current ones which I broke (but I think are fantastic apart from the escaping sound) are Razer Orca.

[TJ]

Beats by Dre

[Brockas]

Beats by Dre
I'll stab you.


Sony XBA-4's would be my pick (as the 3's are no longer available). In terms of clarity they're awesome, and unlike a lot of premium headphones they're bloody durable. I treat mine like crap and they just don't fail.

[shifted]

Sony XBA-4's would be my pick (as the 3's are no longer available). In terms of clarity they're awesome, and unlike a lot of premium headphones they're bloody durable. I treat mine like crap and they just don't fail.

Fantastic, do you find after a certain volume that everyone can hear what you're playing? I realise some sound escaping would be common, just wondering if its even possible to limit it.

Anywhere online that's recommended to buy them cheap/er than shops?

[R3N]

Sorry to highjack but on the topic of earphones, I have some UE SuperFis that work fine apart from a loose wire somewhere near the jack and Logitech won't cover it or tell me where to get it fixed. Anyone know where I can get this done? I'm assuming it's fairly straight forward to resolder or join the wire properly but wanted it done properly.

[kirbo]

I've owned the Audio-technica MATH-M50s/LE for over a year now. Perfection.


I have the Audiotechnica AD700s and would probably buy these for uni:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B000P62ND6

Closed so the sound won't leak too much. Also great sound and comfy as fuck.

[Brockas]

Fantastic, do you find after a certain volume that everyone can hear what you're playing? I realise some sound escaping would be common, just wondering if its even possible to limit it.

Anywhere online that's recommended to buy them cheap/er than shops?
With the right foam tips (which are included) you'll find the external noise to other people is actually very minimal, not like a lot of other earphones.

$219 with free shipping out of Japan:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-XBA-4IP-Quad-Balanced-Armature-In-ear-Headphones-for-APPLE-New-/151047325035?pt=US_Headphones&hash=item232b1f456b

[jzx_andy]

No point creating a new thread...

Managed to drop a weight on my headphones by accident at the gym which cracked the left case and stopped sound coming through... managed to then fix it somehow but now the sound has become intermittent so I guess I'm up for new headphones instead of fucking around fixing these...

Anything anyone would recommend? Prefer headphones over earphones, I'd like to limit the amount of sound escaping from them though also - don't care for beats by Dre and all that rubbish... just want a decent set that can play hip-hop/dance/dubstep well.

Current ones which I broke (but I think are fantastic apart from the escaping sound) are Razer Orca.

Budget? What are you using the headphones for? Monitoring, or just listening to music?

As everyone has said, Snufkin at Headphonic will most likely sort you out, although their pricing on some of their products isn't the greatest, ebay can be a good alternative, but you should always be weary of fake (they are quite easy to spot since they list ~$500 headphones for like $80, and are coming out of China)

Personally I'd recommend the Audio Technica ATH-A900X, I'm a sucker for their products although I use a pair of Sony's for monitoring.

[TJ]

I'll stab you.

.

:D

I actually have a pair of in ear beats - they are actually pretty good.

As for normal headphones

http://en-au.sennheiser.com/dj-headphones-noise-reduction-hifi-stereo-hd-25-1-ii

I won a pair of senns when I had my iphone, been a fan ever since

[anton]

I have the Audiotechnica AD700s and would probably buy these for uni:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B000P62ND6

Closed so the sound won't leak too much. Also great sound and comfy as fuck.

These are very good for the price. would be my recommendation also

[Trolley]

Another Audio Technica fanboy here. As per my post in the 'cool shit you dropped stupid money on' thread, I just purchased a pair of ATH-W1000X for 700 squids. eep!
Pop into Headphonic (www.headphones.com.au shopfront) in Leederville and audition a pile of cans. They have dozens on display for listening. Open until 7pm on Thursday nights too which is handy for dropping by after work.

[_S9_]

I have a pair of SOL Tracks HD (On-Ear) that I use every day @ work. No sound leakage.

http://www.solrepublic.com/headphones

Seriously good for the price. After procrastinating for ages for a ~$100-price-range headphones, these came up the best!

[shifted]

Budget? What are you using the headphones for? Monitoring, or just listening to music?

Don't really have one in mind but I'd say above $200 and I would start thinking I'm being a muppet for wasting that much money. Just use them to listen to music, gym, studying, possibly in an office environment while drafting/engineering (later on though).

I guess I find it hard to justify high prices for headphones because I don't use them enough, I'm sure some produce great sound but the chances of me acknowledging the difference is slim to none...


I actually have a pair of in ear beats - they are actually pretty good.

Won't ever waste money on in ear buds (let alone beats) again - one speaker randomly stopped working and now they sit in the bottom of the gym bag, plus I find if I wear them for hours upon hours I begin to get a headache and they get really uncomfortable... Mate swears by them though so each to their own!

Will have a look at some Sennheiser on the weekend though.


I have a pair of SOL Tracks HD (On-Ear) that I use every day @ work. No sound leakage.

http://www.solrepublic.com/headphones

Seriously good for the price. After procrastinating for ages for a ~$100-price-range headphones, these came up the best!

Will have a look at these and the Audio-Technica! Thanks for the replies - will make for some good procrastination from exam study haha

[Davo]

Don't know if its just me.. But Samsung earphones > all earphones I have tried. Got good clean bass and treble.

[Onijin]

Sennheiser CX300-IIs aren't too shabby for in-ear phones. I also use a pair of HD 280 pros for DJing, though probably overkill for casual listening. Wouldn't even piss on Beats by Dr Dre, too tinny for my liking.

[TJ]

Bump -

Keen for something noise cancelling up to about 200 bucks.

Not keen for something tight over the ears etc

Any suggestions (Availabile in Perth on Thurs is also a must)

[skidkid]

http://headphones.com.au/

23 Harrogate St, West Leederville.

Go try some out.

[cplagz]

Bump -

Keen for something noise cancelling up to about 200 bucks.

Not keen for something tight over the ears etc

Any suggestions (Availabile in Perth on Thurs is also a must)

http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=920

or over ear

http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=435

^ these are good because if ANC module goes flat, headphones still work.

[TJ]

Thanks boys.

[RGVFAST]

For $29 bucks from Officeworks it don't matter if you forget them on a plane or a hotel room on your trip.

http://media.officeworks.com.au/ims_docs/4F/4FD6454540BFA330E10080000AF11387.JPG

http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail/products/Technology/Audio/Headphones/Noise-Cancelling-Headphones/MUMIGNC102

[hako]

https://www.storedj.com.au/products/AKG-K490NC

When I bought these they were in stock in Perth, and $10 cheaper. Headphonics might have them, highly recommended.

[Torquen]

Boss QC 15 > all... they're also $400 though.

[shifted]

Didn't want to start a new thread, figured there possibly may be some knowledgeable people on here as my google search hasn't really given me an answer.

Anyone using headphone amps? Got a set of AKG Q701 and I'm considering the Fiio E09K & E17 package, they seem to produce the correct impedance, not sure if I could honestly tell the difference between PC and someone else's setup at work but that may have been due to not really blasting them seeing they are an open back design and leak hard.

Any other recommendations? Headphonics in Leederville has mentioned one for $299 that is purely a desktop amp and another at $699 however the Fiio seems like the best value for money. I'm not exactly an audiophile, just want to make sure they are driven well enough really.

Anyone got a setup they are happy with?

[confuzion]

Yep I have the E17.. It is an awesome little thing..
What are you planning on using it with? As a laptop/desktop soundcard it is awesome.. If you have an iPhone 5 you will only be able to use the 3.5mm jack to the amp as Apple have restricted the licence or something with the chip in the iPhone 5 adapters/cables. - http://www.head-fi.org/t/639512/fiio-e17-and-iphone-5-what-about-dac

If you have any other phone/iPod I think it's all good :)

[shifted]

I was hoping to basically use it at work so E09K connected to the Desktop PC, with the E17 docked in or for portable use (HTC phone, laptop etc.) - nothing Apple related though I have seen the E09K + E17 package come with a specific Apple dongle.

Basically just want the headphones to be "driven correctly" if that makes sense, I'm guessing the Fiio is capable of doing so, just didn't want to buy it to then sit there thinking I should have bought something else. Looks like it'll be a goer though!

[4AGE Sedan]

I have one of FiiO's E10 USB amplifiers that I use with my laptop & Mac, and it's great!

I was a little skeptical at first, but using it for the first time I was amazed - Now I use it all the time for music, movies, etc etc. My Sennheiser HD280 Pro's (what a mouthful) sound much better when I'm using the amp, there is much more depth to the sound. It's about 2 years old now, been knocked and dropped many times, and still works perfectly. I don't think you'll regret it one bit :)

[forde]

Bump. Looking for some decent headphones, will be used at the gym and on the bus/plane. What's good these days?

[mod]

I bought the Audio Technica ATH-M50X for the mrs, used for gym/plane etc and our whole euro trip
highly recommend much much better than beats shitters
http://headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=1008

[monk_13]

Head in and see the guys at the shop linked above. Audition everything and take your own music. Last time I went, I spent about 90 minutes listening to all sorts of things

[shifted]

Bump. Looking for some decent headphones, will be used at the gym and on the bus/plane. What's good these days?

I use these for the gym - http://www.monsterproducts.com/Monster_iSport_Freedom_Wireless_Bluetooth_On-Ear_Headphones

[ola]

Purchased a set of PSB M4U2's (Active noise cancelling model) from Headphonic about three months back, along with a new player (iBasso DX50).

They sound fantastic! And I researched and tried maybe 10+ different headphones. They were $350 from memory.

[Gleeso]

Bump. Looking for some decent headphones, will be used at the gym and on the bus/plane. What's good these days?

Another option; http://www.amazon.com/JayBird-BlueBuds-Sport-Bluetooth-Headphones/dp/B00AIRUOI8

[dstyle]

got these a couple of days ago. very happy indeed, ive owned a large variety of the leading "in ear" brands and these are prob my fav so far

https://www.addictedtoaudio.com.au/product/rha-t10i-in-ear-headphones

[DrKarl]

Got some Aktimate Epoz bookshelf speakers. Cost me a fair hit back in the day. My dilemma is my cheap as chips tv only puts out Digital Audo cable (not Aux out, or Audio out) so i have no idea how to get to use my speakers while watching movies or anything. Not sure if i should sell them and upgrade or muck around with different set ups. Anyone had similar experience?

[Gr3mlin]

Anyone bought the Skullcandy Hesh 2 wireless headphones?

[Alt_F4]

Got some Aktimate Epoz bookshelf speakers. Cost me a fair hit back in the day. My dilemma is my cheap as chips tv only puts out Digital Audo cable (not Aux out, or Audio out) so i have no idea how to get to use my speakers while watching movies or anything. Not sure if i should sell them and upgrade or muck around with different set ups. Anyone had similar experience?
What inputs does the the speakers offer?
You'll probably be looking at a DAC, might be able to get a basic one that has digital/optical in for around $100.

[Bomber]

Got some Aktimate Epoz bookshelf speakers. Cost me a fair hit back in the day. My dilemma is my cheap as chips tv only puts out Digital Audo cable (not Aux out, or Audio out) so i have no idea how to get to use my speakers while watching movies or anything. Not sure if i should sell them and upgrade or muck around with different set ups. Anyone had similar experience?

Run a 3.5mm audio jack into Rca cable (white and red for left and right stereo sound) into the back of an amp? Put up a pic of the audio out section of the tv

[DrKarl]

Speakers offer RCA in and 3.5 Audio in.

The only output on the TV is an orange RCA type titles Digital Audio Out (Coaxial)

Want to avoid the Amp as that's why i initially spent the extra money on powered speakers.. Is there any option to run some sort of HDMI splitter that can splice off the audio? Thinking maybe of just running an xbox. It would mean that TV is always played on shit speakers but i may be ok with that.

Note to self. Check TV thoroughly before purchasing.

[Alt_F4]

Something like this will do the trick.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/Sight-%26-Sound---Home/AV-Switchers-%26-Converters/Converters/High-Definition-Audio-Digital-to-Analogue-Converter/p/AC1631

or this way if you want to split HDMI instead
http://www.jaycar.com.au/Sight-%26-Sound---Home/AV-Switchers-%26-Converters/Converters/HDMI-Audio-Extractor/p/AC1741

[protecon]

No headphone out on TV?